Election day holds significant implications for the future of casino gaming in three states.
Voters in Virginia, Arkansas, and Missouri will decide on gaming initiatives related to casino expansion.
There are plenty of opinions on both sides of the issues, and the vote(s) could go either way, so let’s take a closer look at what’s at stake on election day.
Petersburg, Virginia Casino Vote
On election day in Petersburg, residents will decide whether they want to bring a new destination casino and resort to the city.
If approved tomorrow, Petersburg will become the home of the Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia.
The opportunity to vote on the casino came about after the city received approval from the general assembly earlier this year. Now, it’s up to the people to decide if they want to introduce the $1.4 billion gaming destination to Petersburg.
The casino complex would include a 200-room hotel, plus dining and entertainment. It’s also expected to create over 7,500 new permanent jobs within its first decade of operation, and the first phase is expected to open within a year, but it needs a “Yes” vote, first.
Initially, Virginia’s legislature designated Richmond, the state capital, as a location for a casino-resort, selecting media conglomerate Urban One as its operator. However, after residents rejected the proposal in 2021, and again in 2023, state lawmakers reconsidered and reassigned the casino-host designation to Petersburg.
Voters in Bristol, Danville, Hampton, and Norfolk already approved casinos in their respective jurisdictions.
There may also be a casino opening soon in Fairfax County.
Pope County Casino Vote in Arkansas
Pope County remains a candidate for a fourth Arkansas casino in the state, but that could change at the polls on Nov. 5.
As Arkansas voters get ready to vote on November 5, they will consider a ballot measure about casino licenses in the state. If voters approve Issue 2, it will stop the issuance of a casino license in Pope County, and any other county that wants a casino license in the future will need to hold a special election for approval.
Here are the choices they’ll be presented with when they head to the polls tomorrow.
Arkansas Issue 2, the Countywide Voter Approval for New Casino Licenses and Repeal Casino Licenses in Pope County Initiative:
- A "yes" vote supports repealing the authorization for a casino license in Pope County and requiring countywide voter approval for any new casino licenses.
- A "no" vote opposes repealing the authorization for a casino license in Pope County and requiring countywide voter approval for any new casino licenses.
This is happening because in 2018, Arkansas allowed casino gaming after 54% of voters statewide supported a proposal to open four casinos. Voters in Crittenden, Garland, and Jefferson counties backed the casino proposal. However, in Pope County, only 40% of voters supported opening a casino in Russellville. Despite this, the statewide majority allowed the casino plan to move forward.
The Arkansas Supreme Court confirmed that the process for gathering petition signatures and the wording on the ballot followed state laws.
Missouri Vote Could Transform The Ozarks
Amendment 5 in Missouri proposes permitting the Missouri Gaming Commission to grant an additional gambling-boat license for operation on the Osage River, near the Lake of the Ozarks tourist area. This amendment is required since the Missouri Constitution currently restricts gaming-boat casinos to locations along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
Voting yes on Amendment 5 would change the state constitution to allow for 14 gambling boat licenses instead of the current 13.
The Missouri Gaming Commission is expected to award the new license to Bally’s, which already runs a casino in Kansas City. Bally’s plans to build a new casino complex on the Osage River, featuring a 300-room hotel, a convention center, a casino floor, and restaurants.
This development aims to attract tourists to the Lake of the Ozarks year-round. Supporters estimate that passing this amendment will bring in over $14 million each year from gaming taxes. If approved, the money from these licenses will support early childhood literacy programs in public schools.
If Amendment 5 passes tomorrow, the casino is expected to obtain its license in a few months. Construction is then estimated to take around 18 months, aiming for an opening in 2026.
Casino Votes Will Have Significant Impact
The outcomes of the measures in Virginia, Arkansas, and Missouri will significantly influence the future expansion of gambling in these states.
They could boost the local economies and attract new visitors to all three locations, but those who are opposed cite addiction, crime, and traffic troubles as some of the reasons they plan to vote “no”.
In short, there’s a lot on the line at the polls tomorrow.
